Parking garage system



Sept. 3, 1963 I I A. ROTH 3,102,645

PARKING GARAGE SYSTEM Filed Sept. 29, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.2

Fl H H l I U LJ INVENTOR. IQN'T'OA/ 20TH Sept. 3, 1963 A. ROTH 3,102,645

PARKING GARAGE SYSTEM Filed Sept. 29. 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3

i i I INVENTOR.

I /VT'aAJ e0 TH United States Patent 3,102,645 PARKING GARAGE SYSTEM Anton Roth, Hoch staedter-Landstrasse 17, Hanan (Main), Germany Filed Sept. 29, 1961, Ser. No. 141,831 Claims priority, application Germany 0st. 1, 1960 9 Claims. (Cl. 214-161) This invention relates to parking garages and more particularly to means for transferring the vehicles to be parked to and from boxes.

The object of this invention is a parking system which permits fast, efiicient, and safe parking and removal of cars. It is a further object of this invention to provide simple means for transferring the cars to and from their boxes.

With these and other objects in view, the parking structure of the invention includes an elevator shaft and a plurality of vertically spaced floors adjacent the shaft and extending from the shaft in opposite directions. An elevator platform is vertically movable in the shaft and is capable of substantially contiguous horizontal alignment with the several floors. A-n elongated guide beam is fixedly mounted on the elevator platform and projects in the aforementioned opposite directions. Recesses in the several floors adjacent the elevator shaft permit passage of the projecting ends of the guide beam during vertical movement of the platform.

A slide in guiding engagement with the beam is longitudinally movable thereon between two terminal positions, and a support element in guiding engagement with the slide is reciprocable thereon transversely of the direction of slide movement by suitable drive means. The dimensions of the slide and the position of the support element on the slide are such that the support element is adjacent one of the projecting beam ends when the slide is in one terminal position on the beam, whereas the support member is remote from the other beam end in a direction away from the first-rnentioned beam end when the slide is in its other terminal position. Wheel gripping means project from the support element transversely of the direction of elongation of the guide beam.

The exact nature of this inventionas well as other features and advantages thereof will be readily apparent from consideration of the vfollowing specification rel-ating to the annexed drawing in which:

FIG. 1 shows an upper parking floor of a parking garage of the invention in a partially sectional plan view;

FIG. 2 shows the entrance floor of the parking garage of FIG. 1 in a corresponding view;

FIG. 3 shows an elevator platform of the garage in plan view on a larger scale;

- FIG. 4 shows the elevator platform of FIG. 3 in fragmentary enlarged elevational section on the line lVIV;

FIG. 5 shows a portion of the elevator platform of FIG. 3 in one operating position on a larger scale;

FIG. 6 shows the platform portion of FIG. 5 in another operating position; and

FIG. 7 shows a modified elevator platform in a view corresponding to that of FIG. 4.

The parking level of the garage shown in FIG. 1 has two rows of open boxes 2 separated from each other by an elevator shaft 1. 3 in the center of its edge adjacent the elevator shaft and opposite a corresponding recess 3 of a box 2 in the other row. There are as many elevator platforms 4, 5 etc. in the shaft 1 as there are boxes 2 in each row.

Each elevator platform carries a fixed guide beam 7 the ends of which project from the platform toward the two rows of boxes 2, and pass through the recesses 3 during vertical movement of the elevator platform. The

The floor of each box has a recess 3,102,645 Patented Sept. 3, 1%63 beams 8 are 'I-shaped in cross section as better seen in FIG. 4.

A slide 8 is longitudinally movable on the beam 7. Its length is approximately equal to the width of the associated elevator platform as measured along the beam. The slide 8 carries a support element 12 which is mounted at one end of the slide. On the entrance level of the garage illustrated in FIG. 2, the support element 12 is arranged on that end of the beam 7 which is adjacent an entrance 9 of the garage. Such an entrance is located under each box 2 of the higher level illustrated in FIG. 1.

Two guide grooves 10 in the floor of each entrance 9- are longitudinally aligned with corresponding grooves 11 on each elevator platform when the platform is at the entrance level. The grooves 11 are on opposite sides of the beam 7 and laterally spaced therefrom. The elevator platform 4 is shown in plan view on an enlarged scale in FIG. 3. The arrows indicate the direction of movement of a car entering the elevator.

A portion of the platform 4 is illustrated in elevational section in FIG. 4. The support element 12 is horizontally movable in a slot 14 of the slide 8 trans versely of the direction of slide movement on the beam '7. Two rollers 13 project from each side of the support element 12 toward a corresponding groove 10 or 11. As best seen from FIG. 6, the range of movement of the support 1'2 in the slot 14 is such that each pair.

of rollers 13 may be vertically aligned with a portion of the corresponding groove. v

As shown in the detail plan views of FIGS. 5 and 6, two pinions 18 rotatable about respective vertical axes on the slide 8 engage corresponding racks 19 on the trout and rear faces of the support element 12. The support element 12 can be moved from the inoperative central position illustrated in FIG. 5 to the laterally displaced operative position, as shown in FIG. 6, by rotating the pinions 18.

The axes of the rollers 13 are inclined by a small acute angle 5 relative to a reference axis 15 perpendicular to the direction of movement of the slide 8. The angle 18 should be about 5 to 15 degrees, and preferably 10 degrees. The two rollers 13 on each side of the support element 12 diverge in an axial direction away from the element 12.

An elevator platform equipped with :a modified support element is illustrated in FIG. 7 in a. view corresponding to that of FIG. 4. The modified support element consists of two parts 16, 17 which jointly assume the configuration of the element -12 when in the inoperative position illustrated. They are laterally movable relative to the slide 8 in opposite directions by means of non-i-llustrated rack-and-pinion drives so that the two pairs of rollers 13 respectively mounted on the parts 16, 17 may be simultaneously aligned. with the respective grooves 11 or 10.

The store-described apparatus is operated as follows:

A car is driven into an entranm 9 in such a manner that the wheels on one side of the car are engaged in a groove. The car is thus at a predetermined distance from the path of movement of a slide 8. When the engaged rear wheel is within range of the rollers 13, the car is stopped. The side 3 is moved from the elevator platform 4 into the entrant): as shown in FIG. 2. An optical system may be provided for indicating its proper position. The rollers 13 are brought into their operative position in which they grip the rear wheel between them. When the slide 3 is moved back to the elevator platform, the car is taken along. The return movement of the slide '3 is stopped when it is centered on the beam 7 and the two ends of the latter are free to pass through is being shifted by the rollers 13.

3 the recesses 3 during the ensuing vertical movement of the platform to a parking level.

*On the parking level, the slide 8 is moved in either direction to its terminal position to transfer the car forward or rear-ward into a box 2 on the parking floor. The rear wheels of the parked car adjacent the beam '7 is therefore in a predetermined position, regardless of the length or wheel base of the car. The rollers 13 may then be withdrawn.

The car is taken from its box 2 on the parking level and returned to the entrance level by performing the sequence of operations described above in reversed order.

The outwardly diverging rollers of each pair are spaced from each other a distance approximately equal to the diameter of an average sized passenger car tire. Because of their outwardly diverging arrangement, they do not come in contact with the side walls of the gripped tire and they securely prevent rolling movement of the car.

The modified embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 7 permits two cars to be transferred toward or away from a box 2 at the same time even if their wheel bases differ greatly. This modification of the invention is particularly advantageous in parking garages in which a large number of cars has to be parked or withdrawn within a short'time, as in garages serving the employees of a large company, or in garages near theaters.

The apparatus of the invention can be operated without the need for sensing the proper position of a wheel which The front wheels are free at all times, yet there is no danger of their leaving the grooves 10, 1 1.

The rollers 13 are of rigid material. They need not perform any movement relative to the support element 12 except a rotation about their axes.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. In a parking structure, in combination:

a an elevator shaft;

(b) a plurality of vertically spaced supporting floors adjacent said shaft and extending therefrom in two opposite directions; I

(c) an elevator platform vertically movable in said shaft between respective positions of substantially contiguous horizontal alignment with said floors;

(d) elongated guide beam means tflxedly mounted on said platform and having two longitudinal end portions projecting from said platform in said two directions, said floors being formed with recesses adjacent said elevator shaft for passage of said projecting beam portions during vertical movement of said platform;

(e) slide means in guiding engagement with said guide beam means and slidable thereon between two posi- :tions;

(1) a support element in guiding engagement with said slide means and reciprocable thereon in a direction transverse of the direction of elongation of said beam means, said support element being adjacent one of the longitudinal end portions of said beam (g) drive means for actuating movement of said support element on said slide means in said transverse direction; and

(h) wheel gripping means on said support element and projecting therefrom in said transverse direction.

2. 'In a parking structure as set forth in claim 1, guide means on said elevator platform, said guide means being elongated parallel to the direction of elongation of said guide beam means, and guide means on one of said floors longitudinally alignable with'sa-id guide means on said platform for guiding movement of a vehicle wheel between said plat-form and said'floor, said wheel gripping means during transverse reciprocating movement of said support element on said slide means moving toward and away from a position of gripping engagement with a wheel guided by said guide means.

3. In a parking structure as set forth in claim 1, said wheel gripping means including two roller means rotatable, about respective axes fixed on said support element, said axes being transverse of the direction of elongation of said guide beam means, and said roller means being spaced from each other in said direction a distance sufficient to grip therebetween the wheel of a vehicle to be parked.

4. In a parking structure as set forth in claim 3, the axes of said rollers diverging at an acute angle in a direction away from said support element.

5. In a parking structure as set forth in claim 1, said wheel gripping means including two pairs of roller means, said pairs projecting from said support element in opposite transverse directions, the two roller means of each pair being rotatable about respective fixed axes on said support element, said axes being transverse of the direction 'of elongation of said guide beam means, and the roller means of each pair being spaced from each other in said direction a distance sufiicient to grip therebetween a wheel of a. vehicle to be parked.

6. In a parking structure as set forth in claim 5, said support element including two portions movable relative to each other in said transverse direction and respectively carrying said pairs of roller means.

7. In a parking structure as set forth in claim 5, a pair of guide means on said elevator platform, said guide means being elongated parallel to the direction of elongation of said guide beam means, and oppositely spaced from said guide beam means in said transverse direction, and a pair of guide means on one of said floors longitudinally alignable with respective guide means on said platform for guiding movement of a vehicle wheel between said platform .and said floor, the maximum distance of respective portions of said roller means in said means when said slide means is in one of said positions thereof, and remote from the other longitudinal end portion of said beam means in .a direction away from said one end portion when said slide means is in the other position thereof;

transverse direction being smaller than the spacing of said guide means in said transverse direction.

8. In a parking structure as set forth in claim 7, said platform and said one floor being each for-med with two elongated grooves, said grooves constituting said guide means.

9. In a parking structure as set forth in claim 8, the two grooves said one floor tapering in width toward said platform.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,803,583 Aitken May 5, 1931 2,858,032 Morley Oct. 28, 1958 2,994,445 Roth Aug. 1, 1961 

1. IN A PARKING STRUCTURE, IN COMBINATION: (A) AN ELEVATOR SHAFT; (B) A PLURALITY OF VERTICALLY SPACED SUPPORTING FLOORS ADJACENT SAID SHAFT AND EXTENDING THEREFROM IN TWO OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS; (C) AN ELEVATOR PLATFORM VERTICALLY MOVABLE IN SAID SHAFT BETWEEN RESPECTIVE POSITIONS OF SUBSTANTIALLY CONTIGUOUS HORIZONTAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FLOORS; (D) ELONGATED GUIDE BEAM MEANS FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID PLATFORM AND HAVING TWO LONGITUDINAL END PORTIONS PROJECTING FROM SAID PLATFORM IN SAID TWO DIRECTIONS, SAID FLOORS BEING FORMED WITH RECESSES ADJACENT SAID ELEVATOR SHAFT FOR PASSAGE OF SAID PROJECTING BEAM PORTIONS DURING VERTICAL MOVEMENT OF SAID PLATFORM; (E) SLIDE MEANS IN GUIDING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID GUIDE BEAM MEANS AND SLIDABLE THEREON BETWEEN TWO POSITIONS; (F) A SUPPORT ELEMENT IN GUIDING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID SLIDE MEANS AND RECIPROCABLE THEREON IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE OF THE DIRECTION OF ELONGATION OF SAID BEAM MEANS, SAID SUPPORT ELEMENT BEING ADJACENT ONE OF THE LONGITUDINAL END PORTIONS OF SAID BEAM MEANS WHEN SAID SLIDE MEANS IS IN ONE OF SAID POSITIONS THEREOF, AND REMOTE FROM THE OTHER LONGITUDINAL END PORTION OF SAID BEAM MEANS IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID ONE END PORTION WHEN SAID SLIDE MEANS IS IN THE OTHER POSITION THEREOF; (G) DRIVE MEANS FOR ACTUATING MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORT ELEMENT ON SAID SLIDE MEANS IN SAID TRANSVERSE DIRECTION; AND (H) WHEEL GRIPPING MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT ELEMENT AND PROJECTING THEREFROM IN SAID TRANSVERSE DIRECTION. 